IP: Net survey highlighted in NYT derided as junk science

[Dave Farber <farber@cis.upenn.edu>]

>
>Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 09:34:50 -0500
>From: Declan McCullagh <declan@well.com>
>
>
>We had our own take on it:
>
>http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,34387,00.html
>   An exhaustive survey conducted by the esteemed Stanford
>   University reveals that people who spend time on the Net spend
>   less time with humans. Jon Rochmis found an equally
>   astonishing, if not actual, study.
>
>
>>From: Adam Powell <apowell@freedomforum.org>
>>To: "'declan@well.com'" <declan@well.com>
>>Subject: Net survey derided as junk science
>>Date: Thu, 17 Feb 2000 09:18:53 -0500
>>
>>Just because it's on p.1 of the NY Times doesn't mean it's true. I'm glad I
>>wrote it the way I did (see lead item at
>>http://www.freedomforum.org/press/presswatch.asp)
>>
>>FEBRUARY 17, 05:11 EST
>>
>>  Internet Survey Criticized
>>
>>  By RON HARRIS
>>  Associated Press Writer
>>
>>  SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A new study which shows increased Internet use causes
>>  decreased face-to-face social interaction was roundly criticized by
>>detractors as
>>  non-science.
>>
>>  ``Presenting it as a scientific study is a bit of a reach. It's preliminary
>>work and it
>>  doesn't tell us much,'' said Howard Fienberg, a research analyst with the
>>Statistical
>>  Assessment Service in Washington, D.C.
>>
>>  The study was released Wednesday by researchers at the Institute for the
>>  Quantitative Study of Society.
>>
>>  It surveyed 4,113 American adults in 2,689 households. Respondents were
>>  provided with free Internet access and WebTV connections to facilitate the
>>survey.
>>
>>  The study found that too much time on the Internet makes some people
>>reclusive
>>  and less likely to interact with people face to face.
>
>...
>
>>  Fienberg suggested a more random selection of survey respondents studied
>>over
>>  a longer period of time would produce more accurate indicators of Internet
>>use
>>  and social effects.
>>
>>  The study prompted author and Internet use expert Jakob Nielsen to question
>>its
>>  designers' definitions of human contact.
>>
>>  Nielsen said the definition should include Internet-based environments such
>>as chat
>>  rooms, message boards and e-mail. Nielsen said concepts of contact used in
>>the
>
>...
>
>
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